Loading-machine.



I PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903. W. E. HAMILTON. LOADING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 0012.25, 1902.

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PATENTBD AUG. 18, 1903. I

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PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903..

w. E. HAMILTON. LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION I'ILED OCT. 25. 1902 N0 MODEL.

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W. E. HAMILTON. LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILBD 001:.25, 1902.

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w. E. HAMILTON. LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001225, 1902.

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WILLIAM E. HAMILTON, OF ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

LOADING7 MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 736,846, dated August18, 1903. Application filed October 25. 1902. Serial No. 128,736. (Nomodel.)

To to whom it may. concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. HAMILTON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Zanesville, county of Muskingum and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loading-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a system of handling coal in mine-chambers, andhas for its principal object to utilize the slot made by theundercutting mining-machine as a space for inserting plates foranchoring the loading machine and cooperating therewith, as hereinafterdescribed; also, to provide for forcing the end portion of the gatheringmechanism into the coal, and thereby bringing the coal within the rangeof the conveyer mechanism; also, to provide an initial gathering devicefor feeding coal to the conveyor; also, to provide against strainstending to tip or turn the loading-machine. or to make it leave itstrack, and to improve the construction and secure other advantageshereinafter disclosed.

My invention consists principally in equipping the end of theconveyor-frame with an inclined plate adapted to be forced along thesurface of the anchor-plates, and thereby raise the coal within range ofthe conveyer.

It also consists in equipping said inclined plane with devices formechanically forcing the coal upwardly along its surface and onto theconveyor.

It also consists in a deliveryconveyer mounted to have a limiteduniversal movement, as hereinafter described and claimed.

It also consists in the parts and the arrangements and combinations ofparts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specificati on,and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur, Figure1 is a side View of my loading-machine connected to an anchor-platelocated in the slot form ed by the mining-machine. It is to beunderstood, however, in practical use the coal will be shot down beforethe loading-machine is attached to the drag-plates. Fig. 2 is a planview of my machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional detailof the gathering device at the end of the conveyer-frame 'On the. line 33 of Fig. 4. Fig. 1. is a horizontal sectional detail view thereof onthe line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section of my machineon the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 looking to the right, on an enlarged scale.Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional detail on the line 6 6 of Fig. 7. Fig.7 is a vertical sectional detail on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6, illustratingthe universal joint. Fig. 8 is an elevation, and Fig. 9 is a plan view,of a modified form of initial gathering device at the end of. theconveyer-frame. Fig. 10 is an elevation of an anchor-column. Fig. 11 isa vertical sectional detail of the universal joint on the line 11 11,Fig.6. Fig. 12 is a view illustrating the systematic arrangement of themachine and the drag-plates and anohoneolumn. Fig. 13 is a detail viewof the swivelmounting of the yoke.

My machine is preferably mounted on a wheeled truck or platform 1 tofacilitate its movement and is sufficiently low built to operate in thechambers of an ordinary coal-mine. The frame 2 of the machine rests uponthe movable platform and itself supports the motor or engine, preferablyan electric motor 3. The main shaft 4 of the motor is preferablyhorizontaland is provided with a bevel-gear 5, which meshes with anotherbevel-gear 6, fixed on a vertical shaft 7, which shaft 7 carries at itsupper end a bevel-gear 8, which transmits power to the gatheringmechanism. This shaft 7 is journaled in bearings supported by yoke 9 andarms 10, mounted on the framework of the machine. The uppermostsupportingarms 10 carry a sleeve 11, through which the vertical shaftextends, and upon the uppermost end of said sleeve a collar 12, fiXed tosaid shaft,rests flatwise, whereby said shaft is supported inproperposition. A cylindrical shell 13 fits around the sleeve 11 so asto swivel thereon, and this shell rests upon. a shoulder formed on saidsleeve 11. This cylindrical shell 13 constitutes, in effect, a hub oraxle for a yoke 14, which has a circular opening in its loop portion tofit over said hub or axle 13 and rotate thereon. This yoke 14 carriestwo horizontal shafts 15 and 16, on one of which, '15,.is a bevel-gear17, which meshes with the bevelgear 8 on the upper end of the verticalshaft 7 and carries a gear 18, which meshes with a gear 19 on the othershaft 16, supportedin said yoke. This 1ast-mentioned shaft 16 has a drum20 mounted thereon, over which passes IOC an endless conveyer-belt 21.This belt also passes over a second drum 22, mounted 011 a shaft 23,journaled in the outer end portion of an elongated frame 24, which ispivotally mounted on the shaft 16 of the first-mentioned drum 20. Byreason of the elongated frame 24 of the gathering mechanism beingpivotally supported on the horizontal shaft 16 of the drum 20 it isenabled to swing vertically, and by reason of said drum-shaft beingcarried on the pivotally-mounted yoke 14 said elongated frame is enabledto swing horizontally. The outer end of the elongated frame 24 isunsupported except for a strut or distance-piece 25, which extends fromthe frame of the machine to near the end of the elongated frame of thegathering-mechanism frame. This strut 25 is pivotally mounted concentricwith its vertical shaft 7 and is preferably made in two parts,screw-threaded and connected by an ordinary turnbuckle 26, whereby thelength of the strut may be altered and the elevation of the outer end ofthe elongated frame raised accordingly. The outer end of the elongatedframe is provided with a supplemental or initial gathering devicedesigned to feed the material to the main belt or conveyer 21. For thispurpose the outer end of the elongated frame has journaled thereon aframe which is designed to operate as a wedge or inclined plane. Thisframe consists, preferably, of a flat plate 27, with triangular orwedge-shaped sides 28 extendingdownwardly therefrom and with the pointof the wedge outermost. In practice the sides of this platform rest uponthe floor of the mine-chamber, whereby the surface of the plate isinclined upwardly. WVhen the machine moves forwardly, the plate operatesas a wedge or inclined plane and is driven into the mass of loose coalfar enough to bring the main conveyer within operating distance thereof.In order to supplement this merely wedging action, the frame ispreferably provided with mechanical means for forcing the coalbackwardly to the main conveyer. Such means are shown in Figs. 3, 4, 8,and 9 of the drawings. In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 theinclined plate is provided with longitudinal slots 29, and through theslots project upwardly the teeth of a number of wheels 30, mounted onshafts 31, journaled in the sides of the frame. These shafts areprovided with crank-arms or wrist-pins 32 and are connected bypitman-rods 33 to a pitman 34, mounted on the outermost shaft of theconveyer belt. By this arrangement the wheels are driven by the conveyermechanism, and their teeth tend to force upwardly onto the conveyer-beltany lumps of coal that are in position to be reached by said teeth. Inthe construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the foremost shaft 23 of theconveyer mechanism is provided with a bevel-gear 35,which meshes with abevel-gear 36, loosely journaled on a shaft 37, fixed in the inclinedplate or wedge. A number of flights or sweep-vanes 38 are pivotallymounted on the face of this lastmentioned bevel-gear 36. A stationarycamshaped disk 39 is fixed on the stationary shaft 37 in position tocooperate with said vanes 38, so that when the vanes sweep over the endportion of the conveyer-belt their motion is retarded in order not toscrape ofi of the belt any of the coal delivered thereto. In order-togive the flights a digging action as they sweep across the surface ofthe wedgeplate,they are made angular in shape, so that the body of theflight bears against the Coal at an angle instead of fiatwise.Preferably the flight is provided with an antifrictionroller, 40arranged to bear against the edge of the cam-disk 39.

Upon the vertical driving-shaft 7 is a spherical enlargement or hub 41,located below the upper or delivery end of the gathering mechanism. Thisspherical enlargement or hub 41 has a plurality of pins 42, projectingradially therefrom and perpendicular to the shaft. Surrounding thisspherical hub 41 is a sprocket-wheel 43, made in two parts to permit itto fit over the spherical hub 011 the shaft. sprocket-wheel is hollowedout spherically to conform to the spherical hub 41 of the shaft and isprovided with a series of holes 44 for the pins to engage. These holesare larger than the pins, so as to permit a limited universal movementof the sprocket-wheel relative to the shaft, whereby the delivery-trough46, which is secured to said sprocket-wheel, as hereinafter described,is adapted to have its delivery end free to move to any desiredposition.

The under side of the sprocket-wheel 43 has a circumferential groove, inwhich fits a circular collar or flange 45, fixed to the bottom of thedelivery-trough 46. This deliverytrough consists of a metal bottom platewith side guard-plates 47, arranged to stiffen the same, and therebyconstitute a strut, a distance piece or pieces 48, extending from theshaft of one sprocket-wheel to the shaft of the other sprocket-wheel,serving to further stiffen the trough and also serving as a guide orlateral support for the chain. The outer end of said trough is free andcarries a sprocket-wheel 49, over which, as well as over theabove-mentioned sprocket-wheel 43, the delivery sprocket chain 50passes. This sprocket-chain is of any suitable type that is providedwith flights 51. for forcing the material along the trough. In order toprotect the operating mechanism at the end of the delivery-trough fromthe coal falling from the gathering-conveyer, inclined deflector-plates52 are mounted on the frame of the trough.

In the practical use of my machine I contemplate forcing thewedge-shaped initial feeder under the mass of loose coal. For thispurpose the machine is provided with a winding mechanism adapted to windup and pull upon a rope or chain 53, and drag-plates or anchor-plates 54are provided for fastening said rope or chain, and thereby insuring theThe middle portion of the hub of the movement of the machine toward theanchorplates or theanchor-plates toward the machine.

Any suitable .winding mechanism may be employed for this purpose. Asshown in the drawings, the winding mechanism comprises a winding-drum55,1oosely mounted on the vertical driving-shaft 7-, and africtionclutch 56, keyed to said shaft, but movable endwise thereof andhaving a conical or tapering end arranged to jam into a conical openingprovided therefor insaid drum 55, whereby said drum is shifted into andout of 1 engagement with said shaft. The clutch 56 chine thereto.

is shifted by means of a hand-lever 57, provided with a pin whichengages a circumferential groove 58in the clutch.

The anchor-plates or drag-plates consist of fiat plates of metal ofsuitable length to reach back to the end of the cut or slot formed bythe mining-machine in the body of thecoal. Each platehas one end 59turned up or flanged and ispreferably stiffened with ribs or bars onitsunder side. Each anchor-plate is provided with means, such as a chain6], for securing the winding rope or chain of the ma- As shown, suchchain is fastened to one of the stiffening-bars and is of sufficientlength to be accessible when the coal is shot down on the anchor-plate.The inclined platform has a slot or opening 62 therein for the chaintopass througln In practical: operation the anchor-plates are insertedinto the slots or cut 63,formed by the mining-machine, with theirflanged ends innermost. Then the coal isshot down thereon and theloading-machine brought in and its chain fastened to one of theanchor-plates and the winding mechanism set in operation; As thechain isWound up thepull on the chain 1 tends to draw. the machine and theanchor-plates closer together. If the plate is firmly anchored, itremains stationary andthe machineis pulled toward it, in which case theinclined plate or wedge-shaped frame is forced along the upper surfaceof the anchorplate under the mass of coal, whereby the coal is wedgedupin position for the conveyer-belt to reach it. If the anchor-plate isnot firmly anchored, ityields and itsend flange forces forwardly aconsiderable portion of the coal,

which is forced upwardly along the inclined platform and is deliveredonto the conveyerbelt. In each case there is, a relative motion of themachine and the anchor-plate, whose result is the delivery of the coal,and in each case theanchor-plate formsa smooth 1fioor for thewedge-shaped frame 27to work along. Theframe 27 is provided withupwardly-extending, side guards ,64, which prevent the coal from fallingoff.

vIt is noted that'when the machine is connected to an anchor-plate 54out of line with the track or tramway there is a tendency to tip themachine: Thistendency can be minimized-by a tension-equalizing device,such as thatshown in Fig. 12. This device consists of a series ofpulleys for the rope 53, so arranged that the resultant direction of the.whose yoke'is connected to the drag-chain 62 of the anchor-plate. Fromthis pulley 65 the rope passes backwardly and around a second pulley 66,which is fixed on the truck or main frame, and thence said rope passesaround a third pulley 67, whose yoke 68 is swiveled on an anchor-columnprovidedfor the purpose". From this last-mentioned pulley 67 the ropepasses to the winding-drum 55. i i

The anchor-column consists of a bar or column 69, having its endsinternally screwthreaded in opposite directions, after the manner ofaturnbuckle. In each of such ends works a threaded bar 70, whose end ispro vided with prongs or grappling-fingers. The body or middle portion69 of the column is equipped with a hand-ring 71 for manipulating thesame. In operation the column is set up on the side of the trackopposite the side at which the scoop is intended to operate, and itsposition is such that the angle which the rope over it makes. with themiddle line of: the track is about equal to the angle which the rope onthe scoop side makes with the track when the scoop is about midway ofits working position. The force of the pull on:the drag-plate maybe'a'ffected or not, according to the arrangement of the track; but theresultant direction of the force acting upon the truck is in the line ofits track.

Obviously the construction hereinbefore described admits of considerablemodification without departing from my invention, and I do not wish tobe restricted to the exact construction hereinbefore described.

lVhat I claim is l. A low-built loading-machine comprising a mainframe,actuating mechanism,and a conveyer operatively connected theretoftheframe of saidconveyer being pivotally mounted on the forward end of themain frame to swing horizontally and having provision on conveyer havingan elongated frame mounted 011 the main frame to swing horizontally andhaving its outer end project beyond said main frame and provided with aninclined plate at its outer end arranged to be wedged into the material,substantially as and for the purpose set forth. i

3. A loading-machine comprising a main frame, actuating mechanism, and aconveyer operatively connected thereto to be actuated thereby, saidconveyer having an elongated frame mounted 011 the mainframe to swinghorizontally and vertically and projecting beyond said main frame,'and agathering device mounted on the projecting end of said com veyer-frameand arranged to gather the material and deliver the same to saidconveyer. 4. A loading-machine comprising a main. frame, actuatingmechanism, a conveyer operatively connected thereto to be actuatedthereby, said conveyer having an elongated frame mounted on the mainframe to swing horizontally and vertically and projecting beyond saidmain frame, and a gathering device arranged on the projecting end ofsaid conveyer-frame, said gathering device comprising an inclined platearranged to be wedged into the material and means actuated by theconveyer mechanism for forcing the material upwardly along the surfaceof said plate and onto the conveyer.

5. A loading device comprising actuating mechanism, a conveyer mechanismoperatively connected thereto to be actuated thereby, and a gatheringdevice mounted on the outer end of the frame of said conveyer, said 1gathering device comprising an inclined plate arranged to be wedged intothe material, a shaft arranged perpendicular to the plane of said plateand arranged to be actuated by the conveyer mechanism, and vanes on saidshaft arranged to sweep above said plate and thereby force the materialonto the conveyer.

6. In a loading-machine a movable main frame and a gathering mechanismpivotally mounted thereon, said gathering mechanism comprising anelongated frame and a conveyer thereon to swing horizontally andvertically, and an initial gathering device located at the end of saidframe and arranged to gather the material and feed it to the conveyer.

7. A loading-machine comprising a movable main frame, a gatheringmechanism pivotally mounted thereon, and astrut pivotally mounted onsaid main frame to turn with said gathering mechanism, said strut beingconnected to the free end of the frame of said gathering mechanism.

8. A loading-machine comprising a movable main frame, a gatheringmechanism pivotally mounted thereon and an extensible strut pivotallymounted on said main frame to turn with said gathering mechanism, saidstrut being connected to the free end of said gathering mechanism.

9. A loading-machine comprising a movable main frame, a gatheringmechanism pivotally mounted thereon, and a strut pivotally mounted onsaid main frame concentric with the gathering mechanism and connected tothe free end of the frame of said gathering mechanism.

10. In a system of loading coal in minechambers, flanged anchor-platesadapted to be inserted into the slot cut by the miningmachine before thecoal is shot down, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a system of loading coal in minechambers, a flanged anchor-plateadapted to be inserted into the slot cut by the miningmachine before thecoal is shot down, said anchor-plate having a drag-chain, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

12. A system of loading coal in mine-chambers comprising a conveyermechanism and actuating mechanism therefor and plates adapted to beinserted into the slots cut by the mining-machine before the coal isshot down, said conveyer having its end inclined, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

13. A system of loading coal in mine-chambers comprising a conveyermechanism and actuating mechanism therefor and flanged anchor-platesadapted to be inserted into the slots out by the mining-machine beforethe coal is shot down, said conveyer having its end inclined and theanchorplates being adapted for connection to the actuating mechanism,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

14. The combination with a loading-machine comprising a movable frameand a conveyer pivotally mounted thereon and having at the free end ofits frame an inclined plate adapted to be wedged into the material, ofan anchor-plate adapted to be inserted into the slot cut by themining-machine before the coal is shot down, and an anchor-column, and arope connectedto a winding mechanism on the main frame and passingaround pulleys provided therefor on the anchor-column and the main frameand operatively connected to said anchor-plate.

15. The combination with a loading-machine comprisinga movable frame anda conveyer pivotally mounted thereon and having at the free end of itsframe an inclined plate adapted to be wedged into the material, of ananchor-plate having a drag-chain and adapted to be inserted into theslot cut by the miningmachine before the coalis shot down, and ananchor-column, anda rope connected to winding mechanism on the mainframe and passing around pulleys provided therefor on the anchor-columnand the main frame and operatively connected to the drag-chain of saidanchor-plate.

16. The combination with a loading-machine comprising a movable framehaving a winding mechanism thereon, a conveyer pivotally mounted on saidmain frame and having at the free end of its frame an inclined plateadapted to be wedged into the material, and a strut pivotally mounted onthe main frame and connected to the free end of said conveyer-frame, ofa flanged anchor-plate adapted for cooperation with the windingrope,andan extensible anchor-column adapted to secure a firm purchase endwise inthe walls of the mine-chamber,and pulleys on said column and on the mainframe, and a rope extendingfrom thewinding-drum around said pulleys andoperatively connected to said drag-chain.

17. The combination with a loading-machine comprising a movable framehaving a winding mechanism thereon, a conveyer piv- IIO otally mountedon said main frame and hav-- ing at the free end of its frame aninclined plate adapted to be wedged into the material, and an extensiblestrut pivotally mounted on the main frame and connected to the free endof said conveyer-frame, of a flanged anchorplate adapted for cooperationwith the Windin g-rope, and an extensible anchor-column adapted tosecure a firm purchase endwise in the Walls of the mine-chamber, andpulleys on said column and on the main frame, and a rope extending fromthe windingdrum around said pulleys and operatively conneeted With saiddrag-chain.

18. The combination With a loading-machine comprising a movable framehaving a Winding mechanism thereon, a conveyer pivotally mounted on saidmain frame and having at the free end of its frame an inclined plateadapted to be wedged into the material, and a strut pivotally mounted onthe main frame concentric with said conveyer, and connected to the freeend of said conveyer-frame, of a flanged anchor-plate adapted for@ocperation With the Winding-rope, and an extensible anchor-columnadapted to secure a firm purchase endwise in the Walls of theminechamber, and pulleys on said column and on the main frame and a ropeextending from the winding-drum around said pulleys and operativelyconnected to said drag-chain.

19. The combination With an upright driving-shaft having a sphericalenlargement and pins projecting radially from said enlargement, and aconveyer mechanism comprising a sprocket-Wheel fitting over saidenlargement and having holes cooperating With said pins, and a framehaving a second sprocket-Wheel at its outer end, and a conveyer-chainhaving flights thereon arranged to push the material along theconveyer-channel.

20. A 1oading-1nachine comprising actuating mechanism and a con'veyeroperatively connected thereto, the outer end of the conveyer-framehaving provision for delivering material to said conveyer, and a secondconveyer' arranged below the delivery end of said first-mentionedconveyer, said second conveyer being mounted on a driving shaft oftheactuatingmechanism so as to have a limited universal movementthereon.

21. A loading-machine comprising actuating mechanism and a conveyeroperatively connected thereto, the outer end of the conveyer-framehaving provision for delivering material to said conveyer, and a secondconveyer arranged below the delivery end of said first-mentionedconveyer; said second conveyer being mounted upon an uprightdriving-shaft of the actuating mechanism and the normal position of itsconveyer-chain being in a horizontal plane and said chain having platesthereon arranged to push the material along the conveyer-channel.

WVILLIAM' E. HAMILTON. Vitnesses:

A. O. LAWHoN, XV. D.- HAMILTON.

